CeNeS strengthens the patent portfolio for its lead clinical programme M6G (morphine-6-glucuronide)

CeNeS Pharmaceuticals plc (AIM: CEN) (‘CeNeS’ or ‘the Company’) today announced that it has been granted a new composition of matter patent on a novel salt form of M6G by the European Patent Office. The invention relates to a salt of M6G with improved stability and to the therapeutic use of the salt. The granted patent is registered in 21 European countries. The new patent expires in 2022 and has the potential to extend and strengthen the protection provided by the existing process patents.

CeNeS has process patent protection on M6G until 2016, and additionally expects to receive ten years of data and market exclusivity in Europe from the date of first market approval. The new granted patent potentially allows an extension of patent life until 2022 on the therapeutic use of M6G.

Neil Clark, Chief Executive of CeNeS commented, “We are delighted to have further strengthened our intellectual property position around M6G. This additional granted patent will strengthen our negotiating position in partnering discussions and our longer term ability to extract value from the commercialisation of M6G”.